Palmetto Elementary School

Palmetto Elementary School in West Palm Beach, FL, serves 508 students in grades PK through 5 and is part of the Palm Beach district, where it has recently become a standout story of dramatic improvement.

The most exciting news for parents is Palmetto’s remarkable academic turnaround. After years of lower performance, the school has surged into the top 40% of Florida elementary schools, now earning a 3-star rating. In the 2025-2026 school year, its 4th and 5th graders are outperforming both the district and state averages in English Language Arts and Math. For example, 72% of 4th graders are proficient in ELA, compared to 62% district-wide. This success is even more impressive when compared to nearby schools like Berkshire Elementary and Highland Elementary, which remain in the bottom 30th percentile. Palmetto’s performance now rivals top local schools like Meadow Park Elementary and South Olive Elementary. Key factors driving this change include a very low student-teacher ratio of 12.5:1—the lowest among all standard elementary schools in the area—and high per-student spending of $19,735, which is significantly more than at many neighboring schools.

Despite these academic gains, Palmetto faces a challenge with chronic absenteeism, which has remained around 33-34% for the past four years. This is higher than the district average and much higher than at Meadow Park (16.5%) or South Olive (19.3%). The fact that the school is achieving such strong test scores despite this hurdle speaks to the effectiveness of its instruction. For parents, this means Palmetto offers a powerful, resource-rich environment with small class sizes and a proven track record of lifting student achievement, making it a compelling choice in the West Palm Beach area.